European Union

The National Bank of Ukraine devalued the hryvnia by 6 kopecks, setting the official dollar exchange rate at 39. 6037 UAH/USD.

Kuleba and the French Foreign Minister discussed steps to accelerate the provision of additional air defense systems and missiles to Ukraine, as well as measures to counter Russian disinformation and strengthen cybersecurity.

Israeli missiles strike Iranian territory.

India has launched an election campaign involving almost a billion voters. The ruling party led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to win.

Minister Kuleba thanked EU Representative Borrell for his efforts to provide Ukraine with Patriot and SAMP/T air defense systems, emphasizing their critical importance in the joint message "Air Defense for Ukraine Now".

The G7 is considering using nearly $300 billion in frozen Russian assets as collateral for loans to Ukraine to help meet its urgent financial needs in the face of the Russian invasion.

Ukraine and the Czech Republic have begun negotiations on a bilateral security agreement to strengthen cooperation in the defense industry and pave the way for Ukraine's future membership in the EU and NATO.

Shmyhal met with French Minister Le Maire to discuss Ukraine's military needs, restoration of the energy system, and confiscation of frozen Russian assets.

President Zelenskyy's peace plan is the only one being discussed by the international community, while other plans have disappeared, and then they will have to be discussed with Russia, which is the aggressor - we should not forget this, says EU chief diplomat Josep Borrell.

The United States and the United Kingdom have imposed sanctions on participants in Iran's UAV program, the Iranian steelmaker Khuzestan Steel Company, the automaker Bahman Group and its subsidiaries in response to Iran's unprecedented attack on Israel.

EU Diplomacy Chief Josep Borrell has called for Patriot missile defense systems to be sent out of the "barracks" to Ukraine, where the war is raging, and hopes that EU defense and foreign ministers will commit to providing more military aid to Ukraine at their upcoming meeting in Luxembourg.

Ukraine calls on Georgia to respect the right of citizens to peacefully protest against the draft law on "foreign agents" and condemns the comments of the Georgian Prime Minister about the threat of "Ukrainization," emphasizing that the real threat to Georgia is Russification, not "Ukrainization.

According to EU diplomat Josep Borrell, in the coming days, concrete decisions are to be made on sending more air defense systems to Ukraine.

The European Commission has allocated an additional 10 million euros to support Ukrainian scientists who were forced to leave the country because of the Russian war.

Next week, the European Commission will start discussing the 14th package of sanctions against russia and potential new restrictions against belarus. The decision to approve the sanctions is expected in May.

The European Council strongly condemned Russia's air and missile attacks on Ukraine's civilian infrastructure, emphasized the urgent need to ensure Ukraine's air defense, and called for the accelerated and intensified provision of all necessary military assistance, including artillery ammunition and missiles.

Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili promises to veto the controversial law on "foreign agents" if it is passed, amid large-scale protests against the bill.

Ukraine urgently needs additional Patriot and SAMP/T air defense systems to defend against Russian terror and protect Ukrainians from Russian missiles and drones.

Borrell discussed with Cameron the intensification of efforts to urgently provide Ukraine with air defense equipment.

Blinken will attend a meeting of G7 foreign ministers in Capri to discuss support for Ukraine in its fight against Russia's war, the crisis in the Middle East, and deepening global partnership.

The European Commission's Director-General for Neighborhood and Enlargement Negotiations said that the first feedback on the Ukraine Plan, approved by the European Commission and submitted to EU member states, is positive and he does not foresee any difficulties in this regard.

Next week, the European Union is expected to disburse another €1. 5 billion in aid to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility, in addition to the €4.5 billion already provided.

Ukraine's Prime Minister expects the US to continue financial and military assistance until 2024, confiscate Russian assets to help Ukraine, and deepen bilateral cooperation to win the war and establish peace.

Since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received $83. 7 billion in financial assistance from international partners.

In Ukraine, the share of the illegal cigarette market has reached a record 25%, which means that the budget loses almost UAH 25 billion in taxes.

EU leaders decided to tighten sanctions against Iran after Tehran launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Israel, using about 300 shells, in response to the attack on the Iranian embassy in Damascus.

The ruling conservative Croatian Democratic Commonwealth party, led by Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, won the parliamentary elections.

The Netherlands proposed to purchase Patriot air defense systems from countries with large stockpiles and transfer them to Ukraine to help in the war with russia.

For the third day in a row, thousands of protesters have gathered outside the Georgian parliament building, protesting the controversial law on "foreign agents" and blocking Rustaveli Avenue.

Georgia's Prime Minister claims that the controversial law on "foreign agents" is aimed at preventing "Ukrainization" and protecting the country's sovereignty, despite Western criticism that it contradicts EU norms.